Language Learning at the Library

Have you checked out any of our Juvenile Read-Along books?

Find general information about our Juvenile Read-Along collection HERE on our website. 

The library’s collection of bilingual (English/Spanish) picturebook Read-Alongs continues to grow. A quick search of “bilingual read-alongs”  in the catalog reveals more than 50 titles. Some favorites are featured below.

Summaries provided by NoveList

 Gathering the Sun = Recogiendo el Sol un Abecedar: An Alphabet in Spanish and   English by Alma Flor Ada; Illustrated by Simon Silva

 An alphabet book with exceptional illustrations and excellent poetry that gives voice to the   experience of Hispanic agricultural workers. Each letter is matched with a Spanish word (for   example, "Arboles" for "A") and accompanied by a poem in both Spanish and English that   describes how the plant, fruit, vegetable, person, or feeling functions in the lives of these   workers. 

 I'm Hungry! !Tengo Hambre! by Angela Dominguez

 A bilingual picture book that’s sweet enough to eat, about a chatty bluebird and an   indecisive T. Rex who can’t decide what his next meal should be. 

  Delicious Hullabaloo = Pachanga Deliciosa by Pat Mora; illustrated by Francisco      Mora

   In this poem in English and Spanish, lizards, armadillos, and other creatures of the       night make merry beneath the desert moon, enjoying the strains of a mariachi band       and gobbling lots of delicious food.

  La Noche de Terror: Un Cuento Sobre Robot y Rico = The Scary Night: A Robot and Rico      Story by Anastasia Suen; illustrated by Michael Frederick Laughead

  A crackling fire. Weird shadows. Strange noises. And a scary story. Are Robot and Rico ready for   their first camp out?

  Señorita Mariposa by Ben Gundersheimer; illustrated by Almada Rivero

  A bilingual love poem of admiration and respect for the millions of monarch butterflies   that journey south to Mexico   every year. From a chrysalis on the title page, Señorita   Mariposa invites readers to follow the monarch butterfly as it embarks on a journey   spanning thousands of miles.

 Sing With Me = Canta Conmigo by Jose-Luis Orozco; illustrated by Sara Palacios

 A delightful book  that explores six classic songs in Spanish and English. Included are   "Old MacDonald Had a Farm," "The Alphabet Song," "Where Is Thumbkin," "The   Wheels on the Bus," "The Eeensy Weensy Spider," and "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." 

  Perros! Perros! = Dogs! Dogs! by Ginger Foglesong Guy; illustrated by Sharon       Glick

 This simple, yet entertaining title makes use of a wide array of breeds to demonstrate   the concept of opposites. The story begins with a girl waking up in her bedroom,   which  is decorated with canine posters, stuffed animals, floppy slippers, night-light,   even a  doggy alarm clock. As she looks out her window, an excited pack of dogs runs by.   “Big  dog. Little dog….Where are they going?” 

 Pelé, King of Soccer = Pelé, El Rey del Fútbol by Monica Brown; illustrated by   Rudy Gutierrez

 A biography of the soccer star known as "O Rei"--the king--describes his   impoverished  boyhood in Brazil, his relationship with his father, who taught him the   sport, his role on the first Brazilian team to win the World Cup, and scoring his   thousandth goal.

 The Boy Who Touched the Stars = El Nino Que Alcanzo Las Estrellas 

 by Jose M. Hernandez; illustrated by Steven J. Petruccio

 Astronaut Jose M. Hernandez recounts his childhood as the son of Mexican migrant   workers and his life-long dream to travel to the stars.

  Dias y Dias = Days and Days by Ginger Foglesong Guy; illustrated by Rene King   Moreno

 In this bilingual story that introduces descriptive adjectives, words for the weather,   months, and a child's seasonal wardrobe, children enjoy what makes each season   special.

Are you utilizing all that your library has to offer? The library has many services and resources to save you time and money. From printed books, magazines, and newspapers to 24/7 online access to eBooks, audiobooks, movies, and more, the library is your one-stop shop for information and entertainment!

Swap paid services out for the library's services, all FREE with your library card!

• Streaming video content, ebooks, and audiobooks can cost up to $19.99 per month. Hoopla, on the other hand, is completely FREE and has hundreds of thousands of movies, songs, audiobooks, ebooks, comics, and TV shows for adults and children to enjoy on a computer, tablet, phone, or TV.  With no waiting, titles can be streamed immediately or downloaded to phones or tablets for offline enjoyment later. Borrow up to 4 items per month with each library card. Visit www.hoopladigital.com to create an account and begin streaming today!
   
• Language learning services can cost up to $14.95 per month. Swap for Mango, a FREE online language learning tool that offers courses in Spanish, Polish, English, Mandarin, and more. Go to here to get started!
   
• Online magazines can cost up to $11.99 per month. Instead, use Magzter, which has over 4,000 magazine titles available to read digitally for FREE. Read in your browser or download the app for Apple or Android. Visit here to explore all that's available!
   
• Audiobook and ebook streaming services can cost up to $14.95 per month. Swap for Libby and read or listen to eBooks & eAudiobooks for FREE on your mobile device using the Libby app or on your computer. Kindle titles are also available. Go to here to start saving!

Don't miss these valuable resources. Available around the clock from the comfort of your home or on the go, access the eLibrary to offset your family budget. Visit here to find your next library swap!

Have questions? Ask library staff or go here.

Learning another language is exciting, helpful, and fun! If you’re looking to learn, we have just what you need. The library’s resources include a vast array of books, audiobooks, and even an app that can assist you: Mango. First, let’s see what books can help you get you started on your language-learning journey. 

It’s a good idea to lay a foundation in your brain before starting to learn a new language. We recommend The Unfolding of Language: An Evolutionary Tour of Mankind’s Greatest Invention or Don’t Believe a Word: The Surprising Truth About Language, or you can dive right in with How to Learn a Foreign Language. 

 Now that we’ve found some foundational books, let’s look at what languages you can learn from our book collections. If you want simple language-to-language dictionaries, you can find Dutch, Romanian, Welsh, Korean, Vietnamese, Hebrew, Swahili, Polish, and Esperanto. We also have more in-depth books that will teach you grammar structures, culture, and vocabulary in languages such as Japanese, Dutch, French, Italian, Mandarin, Latin, German, Turkish, Spanish, and Gaelic.  

If you prefer learning by listening, we have Audiobook options for you. We have Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Hebrew, Korean, Irish, and Russian.  

We also have a special series of books that are dedicated to a three-month learning study method. You can try it out with Arabic, Danish, Greek, Hebrew, Norwegian, and Russian. 

 You can download the library’s free language-learning app, Mango, right onto your smartphone or other device to start your learning journey. Mango has different lessons you can listen to and practice as you go to get a jump on learning. 

Learning a new language can promote inclusivity, challenge your brain, and provide long-term key skills in communication. Come by and check out our language section to get started on your language-learning journey. Have fun!